The political tension, believed to have contributed to the current state of the municipality, boiled over during a visit from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) last week.
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During the meeting at the Bhekuzulu Hall, councillors were said to have engaged in ‘serious mudslinging’.
Chairperson of NCOP, the Honourable Z.L.I. Cele had to on more than one occasion threaten to throw council members (including Speaker, Michael Khumalo) out of the meeting due to the constant bickering.
NCOP had hoped to engage with AbaQulusi’s Chief Financial Officer, but was left very disappointed when he did not make it to the meeting.
Instead, representatives had to settle for reports handed over by his fellow directors and the Deputy Mayor, Mncedisi Maphisa.
“The first thing one notes is that there seems to be a discrepancy issue when it comes to money matters in this municipality. The employees tell us one figure and the Deputy Mayor brings a totally different figure. How much money is actually in the municipal accounts?” asked Hon. Cele to council members who were present.
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Issues such as the fact that the municipality has been running on an unfunded budget for the past three years, an accumulating number of unpaid creditors and grants ‘not being spent properly’ were among the main questions raised by members of NCOP.
Also mentioned was how Wards 1, 9, 18 and 22 had become non-functioning, to which NCOP demanded explanations.
Speaking on behalf of the municipality, Cllr Khumalo admitted the municipality was in financial crisis, but emphasised this had been the status quo since the 2014/2015 financial year – the period prior to the IFP taking power in AbaQulusi.
His words elicited jeers of disapproval from the ANC, prompting the NCOP chair to beg councillors to remain civil.
Read the full story in today’s Vryheid Herald.
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